As a nation state, Italy has emerged only in 1871. Until then the country was politically divided into a large number of independant cities, provinces and islands. The currently available evidences point out to a dominant Etruscan, Greek and Roman cultural influence on today's Italians.

I acquired this photo of my grandfather after my fathers death. I know very little information on my grandfather. I believe that he was born in Messina Sicily about 1887 and came to American in 1907. I need assistance in finding out more about my grandfather, his name was Francesco Sgarano. I also need help in obtaininging information on the uniform he is wearing in the photo.

Thank you so much for the information you provided. I did already find some of this information, but was happy to read the information from the NEHGS site. Both of my grandparents didn't speak english so alot of information was lost with them. The Jul 12 1913 record is the birthdate of my father. I was never really sure of my grandmothers maiden name.

Hello!
I'm so glad we could find your father's record for you.
If you would like a copy of your grandfather's birth record (act) you can write to his comune.
There's no charge.
There's a good chance his place of birth is the same as his last residence on his manifest - Itala
Valarie

I don't think they made or kept pictures but you can get his entire military record from the provincial capital of his town of originin Italy requesting his discharge records "FOGLIO DI CONGEDO ILLIMITATO" which has his personal data along with his military service record.

Go to www.angelfire.com/ok3/pearlsofwisdom/saviello2.html for letters in the Conscription records section. Please let me know if you for sure he was born in Messina or inthe province of Messina since this is where you write: Archivio di Stato di Messina, Archivi Militare, Via 24 di Maggio Isol 291, #18 98122, Messina, Sicily, Italy. =Peter=